Every Christian has lost people as family members. For a born-again Christian, accepting the Lord Jesus, eternal life, and heaven is a fact. Once saved, Christians have a desire to tell others so they too may receive the same gift of forgiveness and eternal life. The first people in the world to see the change in a person's life after salvation is ones own family members.
However, in many cases, much of the initial rejection and persecution comes from family members who are not happy about someone accepting the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
What is the best way to witness to these people? This is the subject of this tract. Several suggestions will be given for those who seek the salvation of lost family members.
PRAYER
The most important thing to do is to pray. Each day pray and make intercession for the souls of lost family members. Pray that God will convict them of sin and lead them to an understanding of their need for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus. Pray that God will bring other Christians into their lives as added witness. Always remember that God hears your prayers! Never give up if you don't see any results. God will be working so never stop praying. Pray until your dying day (or rapture day) for your unsaved loved ones! Here is what the Bible says:
Phi 4
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests
be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
WITNESS
Share your faith with your family members. They may want to know what decision you made and why. Give a clear witness of how and why you accepted the Lord Jesus into your heart.
Act 22
15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast
seen and heard.
LEARN WHEN TO BE QUIET
Once you have shared your witness there comes a time to be quiet. When your unsaved loved ones have heard the Gospel there will come a time when they do not want to constantly hear it again and again. Recognize that time and when to be silent.
EXAMPLE
A major way that your faith can be shared is not by words. Make sure your actions are a good example of your words. Once saved, a person's desires change. Christian's sin and fail every day. However, they no longer love the sin. There is a new awareness and rejection of sin and evil. Here is what the Bible says:
2 Cor 5
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Live your life as a Godly example for all your family members to see.
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Go out and find a good Bible believing church that holds fast to sound Biblical doctrine. Attend on a regular basis. Your unsaved loved ones may not like you going to church, but at least let them see you now have a desire to assemble with God's people.
Hebrews 10
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching.
DAILY BIBLE READING
Get a good (KJV) Bible and read it each and every day. The Word of God is spiritual food. Be sure to eat that food each and every day without fail. By doing so you will mature and grow in the Lord Jesus Christ. Again by doing this your lost family members will see your faith by example.
1 Pet 2
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye
may grow thereby:
PITFALLS
There are certain pitfalls or things to avoid when dealing with family members.
- Do not force your views upon them. Give your testimony and learn to sense when they do not want to hear it any more. There is a time to be silent and pray for God's Holy Spirit to convict your lost family member of their need for salvation.
- Do not nag your lost family member. If you spouse is not saved then do not try to 'nag' them into the Kingdom. It will not work. People do not like to be forced into things they do not want. Show a good example in your actions of your Christian faith. The goal should always be a sincere conversion from the heart. The lost person must want the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Saviour with all their heart. You want to see a genuine salvation to occur. This can only happen by the working of God's Holy Spirit. So, recognize the point when it is time to back off and let the Lord Jesus work on the live of your unsaved loved one. Nagging and harassment will never work with an unsaved loved one.
- Try to avoid strife in your home. If your unsaved loved ones react negatively to your Christian faith, do not fight back. Try to create a peaceful home environment. Again there comes a time when you should be silent and pray while the Holy Spirit works. The silent example of your changed live will speak far more than your words. Don't let them talk you into sin or to rejecting Church or Bible reading. However, silence, a good example, testimony is a powerful witness to lost family members.
CONCLUSION
The most important way to win lost loved ones is to pray for them every day. God is able to move people and circumstances into their lives as He pleases. Be assured that God also wants the salvation of your unsaved loved ones. Also remember that you are not the Saviour, the Lord Jesus is! So pray earnestly and show a good and Godly example toward your lost family members.
Matt 11
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and
lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
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